Drum buoy



March 11, 1952 J HAANSTAD 2 ,588,830

DRUM BUOY Filed Feb. 28, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Jyz INVENTOR.

M r 1952 E. J. HAANSTAD DRUM BUOY 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1950 INVENTOR. J #1140743 Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRUM BUOY Engval J. Haanstad, Arlington, S. Dak. Application February 28, 1950, Serial No. 146,754 7 Claims. (01. s4 421) The present invention relates to a new and useful device which I will term a drum-buoy and which consists of a wheeled carrier for bass drums.

It has long been the practice for drummers to support bass drums in playing positions on intricate and uncomfortable harness devices about their shoulders and torsos when they find it necessary to parade or maneuver with a band. In many instances, to relieve the drummer of the burdensome, awkward, and tiring task of carrying the drum, a second person has been employed to march in front of the drummer with the drum supported on his back by a similar harness arrangement to that used by the aforementioned drummer. Under this second arrangement intricate and involved band maneuvers are almost out of the question.

' The instant invention provides for a wheeled drum carrier which supports the drum on a light and sturdy carriage supported, in turn, on a pair of swivelly mounted wheels which permit the maneuvers of the carrier through any pattern or movement which might be encountered in marchmg.

Further, together with supporting the drum and being adapted for complete freedom of movement, the device can be propelled and controlled completely and with ease by the drummer with merely the use of a single torso strap connnected to the drum and encircling the drummers body. This arrangement permits the drummer to retain full freedom of both hands while the drum is being supported movably on the carrier.

' Another, and most salient, feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a wheeled carrier for bass drums which is completely adjustable to any of the standard sizes of bass drums, as well as a carrier which is automatically adjustable to drummers of varied statures.

Still another and useful feature of the instant invention lies in the provision of a drum carrier of the aforesaid type which is of extremely light weight but durable structure, and the provision of a carrier which is collapsible so that it may readily be folded into a compact unit that can be easily transported from place to place and stored in a minimum of space.

Still a further advantage of the present invention is the provision of an extremely useful and desirable article which is of an extremely simple design and which is readily adaptable to inexpensive manufacture. p Still further improvements and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent when the following description is read in the light of the appended drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the carrier as associated with a drum and drummer.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the carrier and drum as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carrier with parts broken away.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the carrier secured in a folded condition.

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical section in that area indicated at 8 in Fig. 1.

Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are diagrammatic views illustrating varied adjusted positions of the carrier to different sized drums and drummers.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate similar parts throughout, A specifically designates the carrier, B a bass drum secured to the carrier, and C a drummer properly disposed relative to the drum and carrier for use of the carrier in the manner designed.

Referring now particularly to the carrier A, the numeral i designates an elongated base bar which is normally disposed horizontally above the ground level on a pair of wheels 2' and 3. Each of the wheels 2 and 3 is swivelly mounted beneath the bar, one beneath each remote end thereof, by means of vertical pins 4 and axle support brackets 5 which are revolubly secured on the lower ends of the pins.

Extending vertically above the base bar I are a pair of parallel leg members 6 and lwhich have rigid attachment with the base bar at equally spaced distances from, but closely adjacent to,

the remote ends of the bar I. These legs 6 and l are secured to the leading or front face of the base bar I and form together with the base bar a vertical standard supported by and above the wheels 2 and 3.

A cross bar 8 is secured between the rearward faces of the standard legs 6 and I rigidly interconnecting their upper extremities, while a cross brace 9 is secured horizontally between the forward faces of the legs at a point intermediate their height.

Secured on the rearward face of the standard is a drum platform generally designated as D. The platform D consists of a pair of platform arms l0 and H which are secured one to each of the standard legs at equal distances above the base bar. These platform arms are secured to their respective platform legs by means of hinges H which are so disposed as to permit the platform to be folded downwardly to rest adjacent the standard as seen in Fig. 4.

A cross-flap I3 is positioned transverse the outer extremities of the platform arms l and II. This flap-board is secured to each of the platform arms by means of hinges l4 and which are cooperatively secured to the upper faces respectively of the arms and the board.

A pair of elongated support members l6 and H are secured by hinges of the base bar in spaced apart relationship so E8 to the rearward face N as to dispose them one each directly rearward from each of the standard legs 6 and l. The hinges are so arranged as to permit the support members to be folded upwardly to vertical positions closely adjacent the standard legs 6 and 1- Each of the support members is provided with a slotted aperture l9 adjacent the outer ends thereof. These slots l9 permit the supports to be removably and adjustably secured to the outer regions of the platform arms by means of straps secured in the slots and encircling the platform arms. In this manner the angular positioning of the platform and the supports can be readily adjusted within a limited range to permit the carrier to be adapted to drums of varied sizes in a manner to be described.

The upper cross bar 8, interconnecting the upper extremities of the standard legs 6 and 1, is provided with a pair of eye bolts and 26, which are secured in spaced relationship to the rearward face of the bar. These eye bolts are so spaced as to normally dispose them within the bounds of a drum frame. Thus, by removing a conventional tension rod 21 of the drum, the drum may be moved closely adjacent the standard and the tension rod then replaced, threading the same through the two eye bolts in doing so and thereby securing the drum to the standard.

Once the drum has been secured to the standard, as described above, it will be found that the drum will pivot downward with the tension rod 21 revolving on the eye bolts 25 and 26 until the drum comes to rest on the platform. The platform is then raised or lowered until it is possible to bring a second pair of eye bolts 30 and 3|,

.carried in spaced relationship on the upper face of the flap-board I3, into alignment with a second tension rod 32 carried on the drum frame. It may be found that it is necessary to place the flap-board l3 at a pivoted angle relative to the platform arms (Fig. 6) in Order to properly align these second eye bolts with the tension rod.

When the drum has been secured to both the standard and the platform the support braces are then brought beneath the ends ofthe platform and adjustably secured to the platform by means of the straps 20 so as to support the platform in a substantially perpendicular position relative to the standard.

A single torso strap 35, encircling the drummer beneath his armpits, is secured to a tension rod of the drum to secure the drum against the drummers chest so that the motion and movements of the drummer are transmitted through the drum to the carrier.

When not in use the carrier can be readily folded into a compact unit (Fig. 4) for facility of transport and storage.- By disconnecting the straps 20 from the platform arms, the platform and the support members are free to be folded about their hinges to close adjacent positions 4 relative to the standard and secured there by the strap 9.

In Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown the same drum B secured in an identical manner to the same carrier. However, in each instance the carrier and drum are secured to drummers C and C of different statures. In Fig. 8 the drummer C is depicted as being of shorter stature than drummer C in Fig. 7, and the position of the carrier in Fig. 8 can be seen to be at a different angle to the ground thus adapting itself to the shorter drummer.

In comparing Figs. 7 and 9, it can be seen that a different sized drum is applied to the same sized carrier. Thus, in Fig. 9 the angle of the flap-board can be seen to differ from the same board in Fig. 7. Likewise, there is a difierence in the positioning of the supports relative to the platform. Both the aforesaid differences are necessary to compensate for the difierence in drum sizes, and the ability of the carrier to I be so adjusted is one of the inherent advantages set forth previously.

Hence, from the foregoing description it becomes readily evident that a new article of manufacture has been provided having those inherent advantages described.

What I claim is: w

1. In combination with a bass drum having a harness strap for attachment to a drummer, a carrier comprising, an elongated standard. a platform hinged to the standard intermediate the length thereof, supports hinged to the standard and having adjustable connectionwith'the platform along the length thereof to support the outer end thereof at selected elevations, the drum being supported on the platform with its frame and skin sides disposed in a vertical plane, means carried by the standard and the platform for removable attachment to the drum, and spaced wheels swivelly supported beneath the standard for the mobile support thereof.

2. In combination with a bass drum having a harness strap for attachment to a drummer, an adjustable and collapsible carrier comprising, an elongated standard including a transverse base member provided with legs extending upwardly from adjacent the ends thereof, a cross bar rigidly interconnecting the upper ends of said standard legs, a platform secured to the standard intermediate the height thereof including a pair of arms hinged on horizontalpins one to each'of said standard legs at corresponding points intermediate their height and a cross-flap disposed transverse the ends of said arms and hinged in like manner to each, support braces hinged to said base and having adjustable connection one with each of said platform arms at selected points along their lengths, said" braces selectively supporting said platform at definite 'inclination to said standard, the drum being supported on the platform with its skin sides in a vertical plane, means carried at the upper extremity of the standard and at the outer extremity of the platform for removable attachment to spaced tension rods of the drum, and a pair of wheels swivelly mounted one beneath each end of the base member of the standard.

3. As a new article of manufacture to be used in combination with a bass drum connected by a harness attachment to a drummer, a wheeled carrier for attachment to the drum and for rollably supporting the same comprising, a vertical standard having spaced ground engaging wheels and removable tangential connection at its up- 5 per extremity with the drum frame on the forward side thereof ahead of the drummer, a platform secured to the standard intermediate the height thereof and extending rearwardly beneath the drum with which it has removable connection, and supports secured on the standard and having adjustable connection with the platform at points rearwardly of the standard.

4. For use by a marching drummer, a bass drum support and transporting device comprising, an upright, a pair of spaced apart ground engaging wheels at the lower end of the upright and having swivel connection therewith, a platform for supporting a drum, said platform being hinged to the upright intermediate the length thereof and being movable from a collapsed to an extended. position, the platform when collapsed paralleling and abutting the upright and when extended being disposed substantially perpendicular to the upright, a support having its lower end hinged to the upright adjacent the lower end thereof and being movable from a collapsed to an extended position, the support when 001- lapsed paralleling the upright and abutting the collapsed platform and when in an extended position extending upwardly and outwardly from the upright, the support when in an extended position engaging and supporting the extended platform, and a pair of spaced apart tension rods of a drum being secured to the upright and the extended platform respectively for securing the drum on the platform of the transporting device.

5. A construction as defined in claim 4, wherein, the support has detachable supporting conmotion with the platform at selected points along its lengths to selectively support the platform at different inclinations in respect to the upright.

6. A construction as defined in claim 4, wherein, the support has detachable supporting engagement with the platform at selected points along the length thereof, to position the platform at different inclinations to the upright, the end of the platform which is remote to its hinged connection with the upright being provided with a cross flap hinged to the platform by horizontally disposed pivots, and one of the tension rods of the drum being secured to said cross flap.

7. A construction as defined in claim 4, wherein, a bracket is swivelly secured to the upright adjacent each of its lower ends and extends perpendicular to the upright, and each of the ground engaging wheels having an axle rotatable in a bracket.

ENGVAL J. HAANSTAD.

REFEREN CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED PATENTS Number Name Date 1,718,962 Kimball July 2, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 466,632 Great'Britain June 1, 1937 

